Azerbaijan’s budget deficit is expected to widen to 2.022 billion manats ($1.2 billion) in 2019, or 2.5 percent of GDP, up from 951 million manats or 1.3 percent of GDP projected for this year.

Revenues are seen at 23.2 billion manats in 2019, up from 22.2 billion projected for this year. Spending is expected at 25.2 billion manats, up from 23.1 billion in 2018.

The government expects a slight rise in oil output next year to 38.5 million tonnes from 37.8 million expected in 2018. Natural gas production is also expected to rise to 36.91 billion cubic metres (bcm) from 30.2 bcm foreseen this year. ($1=1.7 manats) (Reporting by Nailia Bagirova; writing by Margarita Antidze; Editing by Hugh Lawson)